To work with and serve the residents of Bernalillo County through programs designed to preserve and protect public health and safety, and improve the environment, by administering land use, building, planning, and environmental health regulations in a fair and consistent manner.

Services (What We Do):

Coordinates public hearing and approval process for land use and development matters before the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners, County Planning Commission, Zoning Administrator, and County Development Review Authority.

BernCo Commission Approves New Scrap Tire Ordinance

The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners on March 25, 2015 approved a measure intended to reduce the frequency of illegal tire dumping on public and private property around the county. The County of Bernalillo Scrap Tire Ordinance is an amendment to the Business Registration Ordinance. It will require only businesses that operate wholesale or retail tire sales, as part of their main function, to purchase a tire-cutting machine. The ordinance was passed on a unanimous vote.

BernCo/CABQ Announce Comprehensive Plan Updates

Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque Planning departments have rolled out a joint project to update the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Comprehensive Plan. The city will also be revising its zoning and subdivision regulations, while the county will be involved solely in the Comprehensive Plan update for its unincorporated areas. Goals of the project include improving opportunities for economic development and job creation, protecting the city’s and county’s neighborhoods and special places, and responding to long-standing water and traffic challenges by promoting more sustainable development.

The Bernalillo County Commission on Jan. 14, 2015 approved a cost of living increase for minimum wage workers in unincorporated Bernalillo County, to $8.65 an hour, which takes effect on Jan. 26, 2015. The measure applies to about 1,800 businesses and hundreds of workers in the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County – areas that are located outside Albuquerque’s city limits.

BernCo Commission Recognizes County's Field Inspection Unit

The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 10, 2013 recognized the county Building Department’s Field Inspection Unit for their certification by the highly acclaimed International Code Council. The council, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., is dedicated to developing model codes and standards that are used to design and construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures.

Our goal at Zoning Enforcement is to address zoning violations that have an immediate adverse effect on an area/neighborhood.

The physical appearance of an area directly impacts how that area is perceived by area residents and the larger community. Residents and visitors instantly form opinions as to the perceived level of safety in an area based on its surroundings. When an area appears unkempt with outdoor storage, trash, junk and dismantled vehicles, it can degrade the overall community atmosphere and erode community pride in the area.

The majority of the violations that the department sees involves outdoor storage, trash, junk and dismantled vehicles. Department staff notify those in violation through mail, and in person when possible, and make multiple attempts to bring them into compliance with the county's zoning regulations.

If compliance cannot be met, the county often must resort to legal action. The photos you see here are a small example of what are zoning inspectors and code enforcement coordinators do every day.

Click on the arrows on the left or right side to see the slideshow in its entirety.